American Idol Gets Its First LGBT Judge: Ellen DeGeneres

by Michael Jones · 2009-09-09 18:05:00 UTC
Topics:

Ellen DeGeneres

Well, she certainly doesn't have the chart-topping history that Paula Abdul has, but American Idol has named Ellen DeGeneres as its fourth judge for its upcoming season. Which means that the show is about to get a lot funnier, and about to launch Ellen DeGeneres' career into the stratosphere.

"I'm thrilled to be the new judge," said DeGeneres. "Think of all the money I'll save from not having to text in my vote."

It's also likely to be a boon to the nearly nine-year old television show, which has seen its ratings dip these past few years to their lowest ever this past May.  Guess they need, as DeGeneres might put it, "a homosexual standing in a suit" to get viewers watching again.

Either way, it's a good day for LGBT pop culture.

(Photo courtesy of ronpaulrevolt2008's photostream on Flickr.)

Michael Jones is a Change.org Editor. He has worked in the field of human rights communications for a decade, most recently for Harvard Law School.
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